Epic Universe's Super Nintendo World: Truly Mind-Blowing Experience
Universal Studios and Nintendo's collaboration, expanding with Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe, is set to stir excitement with the introduction of a unique Donkey Kong experience.
In an exclusive sneak peek during the media week preview at Universal Orlando, the latest edition of Super Nintendo World presents a whole Donkey Kong Country area, complete with a thrilling new ride, Mine Cart Madness. This Orlando park expansion deftly builds upon its West Coast counterpart.
"The idea of Epic Universe is we wanted to create a next-generation theme park, a 21st-century theme park," Steve Tatham, Universal's Creative Director, shared during the event, highlighting the advanced technology tucked behind immersive storytelling. The park offers state-of-the-art figures and ride systems to provide interactive, yet seamlessly integrative gaming experiences.
At the heart of Donkey Kong Country lies Mine Cart Madness, an adrenaline-pumping ride that brings the classic gaming world to life. Guests join Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong as they journey to protect the precious golden banana, navigating intricate jungle environments and action-packed sequences reminiscent of the game's iconic mine cart levels.
Tatham underlined the emphasis on the story and technology being secondary to delivering genuine emotional experiences. While guests can reap points and engage in collaborative play by wearing a Power Up Band and exploring interactive touchpoints, screen-based gaming serves primarily as a secondary scoring tool.
The participatory entertainment aspect shines in Donkey Kong Country, where guests can engage with the land by playing mini-games, exploring real places, and collaborating with other park-goers to unlock hidden areas. Completing these tasks rewards players with a secret boss battle, a fitting finale to a video game-themed land.
With attention to detail being crucial to replicating the genuine Nintendo experience, Universal worked closely with Nintendo partners and Miyamoto-San to ensure authenticity. As Tatham explained, "Every element, every detail of the park is vetted to make sure it's true."
While Epic Universe's Donkey Kong Country marks only the latest extension of Universal and Nintendo's partnership, fans may be wondering if other Nintendo characters will soon join the fun. Tatham tantalizingly teased, "Epic Universe will never be done, because there's always more ideas."
Slated to open on May 22, 2025, at Universal Studios Orlando, Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe promises to transport guests into an immersive, thrilling gaming adventure.
- The collaborative efforts between Universal Studios and Nintendo, as demonstrated by Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe, showcase a commitment to integrating advanced technology and immersive storytelling in the future of theme park entertainment.
- As revealed during the media week preview, the Orlando expansion of Super Nintendo World will feature a Donkey Kong Country area, including the main attraction, Mine Cart Madness, which seamlessly merges gaming and real-world experiences.
- In an interview, Steve Tatham, Universal's Creative Director, hinted at the ongoing partnership between Universal and Nintendo, stating that Epic Universe will never be complete due to the endless flow of innovative ideas, possibly alluding to the inclusion of more beloved Nintendo characters in the future.
